(HELENA, Mont.) – One of Time Magazine’s most “influential people in the world” will deliver the keynote address at Senator Jon Tester’s next Small Business Opportunity Workshop March 26 in Bozeman.

 

U.S. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will attend Tester’s workshop in Bozeman to discuss economic opportunities in farming and ranching, as well as accessing capital and foreign markets.

 

“As I keep up my fight for Montana jobs, it’s critical to have the nation’s leaders hear directly from folks on the ground and to open up every available resource for Montana’s farmers and ranchers,” said Tester, the U.S. Senate’s only farmer.  “These workshops have seen a lot of success, putting more tools in the toolbox for Montana’s businesses to keep creating jobs.  As we turn our focus to jobs in Montana’s number one industry, we’ll be building on that success.”

 

“Kathleen is a leader in agriculture, and a friend to Montana, and we’re happy to have her join us,” Tester added.

 

Merrigan is a former teacher and manager of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food effort, which highlights the connection between farmers and consumers and supports local food systems to boost economic opportunities in rural America.

 

Tester’s Bozeman workshop will take place in Montana State University’s Strand Student Union Building in Bozeman on Saturday, March 26, from 8 a.m to 1 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public.  Montanans are encouraged to RSVP at tester.senate.gov/workshop.

 

Tester’s workshop builds on the success of his previous small business and jobs workshops in Great Falls, Bozeman, Kalispell and Missoula over the past two years.  Over a thousand of Montana small business owners and entrepreneurs have attended Tester’s workshops.